Ford and Koenigsegg Prove the Manual Gearbox Isn't Dead Yet

While many automakers have quietly dropped the manual transmission from their lineups. Ford is bucking the trend with a seven-speed stick shift that’s turning heads. Available in the Bronco, this gearbox isn’t just a nod to nostalgia, it’s a tool built for serious off-road work.

58:1 ratio that lets the Bronco creep over boulders at barely a walking pace, giving drivers pinpoint control without riding the clutch. 3-liter turbo four making 300 horsepower, and the setup is now offered across most Bronco trims, starting at $40,795 for the base model. The Badlands trim, priced from $48,890, adds locking differentials, a front sway-bar disconnect, and 33- or 35-inch tires to make the most of that low gear.

Over in Sweden, Koenigsegg has taken a different approach with its Engage Shift System, or ESS. This gearbox packs six clutches and three gear sets, offering a six-speed manual experience with a proper clutch pedal and gated shifter, or a nine-speed automatic when you’re stuck in traffic.

5 seconds. Christian von Koenigsegg told TopGear that the 200-pound unit changes its internal ratios depending on whether you’re in normal, comfort, or track mode. Flip it to Drive, and the car shifts itself. It’s a clever hybrid that keeps the driver engaged without sacrificing convenience.

Ford’s seven-speed isn’t entirely new, it’s a modern take on the old “granny gear” found in vintage trucks and SUVs. But instead of just making first gear extra low. Ford added a seventh gear to keep the rest of the ratios usable on pavement. The result is a transmission that feels natural on the highway and unstoppable on the trail.

Between Ford’s practical innovation and Koenigsegg’s boundary-pushing design, the manual gearbox is far from finished. For driving enthusiasts, that’s good news.